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Final Elbrus Blog – The Ups and Downs

July 31, 2017

Elbrus Blog

The Ups and Downs

After all the many hours of training, planning and preparation, my time had finally come and I found myself on a plane, then another plane and then a very long bumpy mini-bus ride to the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. For anyone interested in geography, the gigantic mountain range lies on the border of Russia and Georgia and as described by one of my teammates, looks like a cross between the Alps (as it’s so green) but as striking as the Himalayas.

Upon arrival, I had the pleasure of meeting my climbing buddies who had various climbing experience from absolutely zero to climbing Aconcagua or trekking to the North Pole. It soon became apparent that I had lucked out and got a fantastic bunch of people to share the experience with.

We also met our guide, Sasha 1 and later our other guides Sasha 2 and Sasha 3, Aleksanda (Sasha) is clearly a very popular name in Russia. Sasha (1) was a straight talking, no messing Russian with a wonderful sense of humour and a passion for the mountains, nature, taking pictures and Facebook! However, this Sasha 1 had a sadistic side and took great pleasure in marching us up black ski runs all day as part of our mountain training. Possibly my favourite Sasha 1 line, after climbing up said black ski run for the best part of 2 hours was, “This slope is for Children” before marching us up an even steeper and much longer slope so high it turned into snow and ice at the top!

 

Child’s Training Slope!

Anyhow, our ‘easy’ days at the bottom of the mountain soon came to an end when on day 4 it was time to stop messing around and go up the mountain (carrying 160 litres of water between us and all our kit and food for the week). We had a ski lift to help for the best part but lugging everything between the lifts was pretty exhausting.

Up at 4,000m, our accommodation comprised of a shipping container with bunk beds and a less than desirable long drop toilet (no sink or running water) however to make up for being back to basics, we had the best view from our container looking over a glacier and the mountain range.

 

Home Sweet Home

The second day on the mountain, I was feeling less than fit and well. Altitude, combined with the lack of sleep in our container and lack of appetite (altitude does that), amongst other things was already getting to me. Unfortunately, there was no time for pansies, only time to start using crampons and being chased up steep hills by Sasha 1 and 2 so off we went. The day was long and the hills longer and steeper, made harder by not being able to walk normally but having to use the crampons to kick each step you took otherwise you were left at the bottom of each hill scrambling around trying to get up like a spider in the bath. Sadly, I ended the day as I started, not feeling fit and well and I went to bed feeling slightly deflated.

The third day on the mountain comprised of much of the same…….

Step Kicking with a View on day 3 of the mountain

The next day was ice axe, rope and more crampon training. We started the day with a long walk to where we were then instructed by Sasha 1 to throw ourselves off the side of a slope so we could learn how to catch ourselves with our ice axe should we fall on summit day. At first this was quite a scary thought but soon became a fun pastime.

Learning to Fall

After many hours, we returned from throwing ourselves off the side of mountains and suddenly and without warning, summit night was upon us. I had my days mixed up and thought we had at least a few more nights on the mountain to prepare for this but no, time had run out and it was time to go up. NB (I blame altitude for my utter confusion on this matter, I really wasn’t sure what my name was, let alone what day it was. I am normally pretty organised)

So at 3am we set off, up and up and up we went. It was freezing at times, it was boiling at times. At some points, it was even freezing and boiling all at the same time depending on which way you were facing – blizzard on one side, sunshine on the other but the views were amazing, especially during sunrise and made up for the freezing/boiling combination.

After climbing for many hours to 5,340m, I started to feel pretty unwell as we approached the saddle of the mountain (the bit where you start having to use your ropes and ice axe). I had a decision to make, climb the last 250m, feeling honestly drunk with altitude sickness or going down. Sadly, I just didn’t feel I could make the last part of the climb safely in my ‘drunken and woozy’ state and made the decision to turn around which was not easy being that close to the summit. I was however, delighted that most of my climbing buddies did make the top safely with only one person actually having to use their ice axe in real life!!!

My View from (nearly) the Top

At the bottom of the mountain, I was asked by one of the team, “If you had known how hard this trip was going to be, would you have done it?”. At that point in time, my answer was “no, probably not” but on reflection, I would do it again ten times over for the experience, utter camaraderie, friendships made and sense of achievement following the trip.

I wanted to also thank everyone who supported me and donated to Rays of Sunshine. I am delighted to say that I raised £1,670 for the charity with which I hope can make a small difference to the lives of some terminally ill children with the amazing wishes that they charity grant each day.  It would be great to reach £2,000 and it’s not too late to donate to this amazing charity.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tracy-kingsnorthmountelbrus?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20170702_96877

 

The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters 

Conrad Anker

 

 

The End

 

 

About Rays of Sunshine

Rays of Sunshine www.raysofsunsunshine.org.uk  grants wishes for children across the UK (aged three – 18), living with a serious or life-limiting illness. Every day of the year the charity gives brave and deserving young people the chance to put their illness on hold and enjoy a moment of escape.  It is Bluex’s nominated charity and is supported by the team.

 

Over 4,500 individual wishes have been granted since the charity was set up in 2003.  Wishes can be as unique as the children themselves and whether a child wants to be a princess or a fireman for the day, go to Disney World in Florida, visit Santa in Lapland, own an iPad, meet a favourite celebrity or a ‘real life’ mermaid, Rays of Sunshine works hard to make that wish come true. 

 

Rays of Sunshine also grants ward wishes, which offer a distraction to hundreds of children during their time in hospital or a hospice. Events and outings are held throughout the year for large groups of seriously ill children including trips to theme parks, hospital activity/pamper days, parties and The Rays of Sunshine Concert at The Royal Albert Hall.

 

Rays of Sunshine receives no government funding. Celebrity ambassadors include One Direction, Gordon Ramsay, Leona Lewis, Pixie Lott, Olly Murs, Louis Smith MBE, Dynamo, Lorraine Pascale and Amanda Lamb.

 

http://raysofsunshine.org.uk/

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